Birch
OTHER NAME(S): Arbre de Sagesse, Betula, Betulae folium, Biole, Bois à Balais, Boulard, Bouleau Blanc, Bouleau Odorant, Downy Birch, Sceptre des Maîtres d'École, Silver Birch, White Birch, Betula pendula, Betula verrucosa, Betula pubescens, Betula alba, Abedul, Bouleau
Overview
Birch (Betula pendula) is a type of tree native to Europe and parts of Asia. The leaves, bark, and buds of the tree are used as medicine.
Birch leaves contain chemicals that increase water loss through the urine. Its leaves also contain antioxidants and vitamin C.
People sometimes use birch for hair loss, joint pain, kidney stones, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Uses
We currently have no information for Birch overview.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Birch is possibly safe when used appropriately. It seems to be well-tolerated, but it can cause allergic reactions in some people.
When applied to the skin: Birch is possibly safe when used for up to 2 months, but it can cause allergic skin reactions in some people.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Birch is possibly safe when used appropriately. It seems to be well-tolerated, but it can cause allergic reactions in some people.
When applied to the skin: Birch is possibly safe when used for up to 2 months, but it can cause allergic skin reactions in some people.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if birch is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Allergy to wild carrot, mugwort, celery, and other spices: Birch pollen might cause allergies in people who are sensitive to wild carrot, mugwort, and celery. This has been called the "celery-carrot-mugwort-spice syndrome." Birch pollen might also cause allergies in people who are sensitive to certain other plants, including apples, soybeans, hazelnuts, and peanuts.
High blood pressure: Birch leaf might increase the amount of salt (sodium) in the body. This can make high blood pressure worse.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Birch overview.
Dosing
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of birch might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
References
- Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
- Wichtl MW. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Ed. N.M. Bisset. Stuttgart: Medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers, 1994.
- McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
- Robbers JE, Tyler VE. Tyler's Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals. New York, NY: The Haworth Herbal Press, 1999.
- Bauer L, Ebner C, Hirschwehr R, et al. IgE cross-reactivity between birch pollen, mugwort pollen, and celery is due to three distinct cross-reacting allergens: immunoblot investigation of the birch-mugwort-celery syndrome. Clin Exp Allergy 1996;26:1161-70.
- Asero R. Effects of birch pollen-specific immunotherapy on apple allergy in birch pollen-hypersensitive patients. Clin Exp Allergy 1998;28(11):1368-73.
- Berrens L, van Dijk AG, Houben GF, Hagemans ML, Koers WJ. Cross-reactivity among the pollen proteins of birch and apple trees. Allerg Immunol 1990;36(3):147-56.
- Mittag D, Akkerdaas J, Ballmer-Weber BK, et al. Ara h 8, a Bet v 1-homologous allergen from peanut, is a major allergen in patients with combined birch pollen and peanut allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2004;114(6):1410-7.
- Mittag D, Vieths S, Vogel L, et al. Soybean allergy in patients allergic to birch pollen: clinical investigation and molecular characterization of allergens. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2004;113(1):148-54.
- Hansen KS, Ballmer-Weber BK, Lüttkopf D, et al. Roasted hazelnuts--allergenic activity evaluated by double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge. Allergy 2003;58(2):132-8.
- Osterballe, M., Hansen, T. K., Mortz, C. G., and Bindslev-Jensen, C. The clinical relevance of sensitization to pollen-related fruits and vegetables in unselected pollen-sensitized adults. Allergy 2005;60(2):218-25.
- Huyke, C., Laszczyk, M., Scheffler, A., Ernst, R., and Schempp, C. M. [Treatment of actinic keratoses with birch bark extract: a pilot study]. J Dtsch.Dermatol Ges 2006;4(2):132-136.
- Lahti, A. and Hannuksela, M. Immediate contact allergy to birch leaves and sap. Contact Dermatitis 1980;6(7):464-465.
- Baek CH, Bae YJ, Cho YS, Moon HB, Kim TB. Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis in the celery-mugwort-birch-spice syndrome. Allergy. 2010;65(6):792-3.
- Hirschfeld G, Weber L, Renkl A, Scharffetter-Kochanek K, Weiss JM. Anaphylaxis after Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) therapy in a patient with sensitization to star anise and celery-carrot-mugwort-spice syndrome. Allergy. 2008;63(2):243-4.
- Palgan K, Götz-Zbikowska M, Tykwinska M, Napiórkowska K, Bartuzi Z. Celery-cause of severe anaphylactic shock. Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2012;66:132-4.
- Allam JP, Wuestenberg E, Wolf H, et al. Immunologic response and safety in birch pollen sublingual versus oral vestibule immunotherapy: a pilot study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;133(6):1757-9.e3.
- Meyer-Hoffert U, Brasch J. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by betulin-containing triterpene extract from the outer bark of birch (Betula alba). Contact Dermatitis. 2013;68(6):382-3.
- Penkov D, Andonova V, Delev D, Kostadinov I, Kassarova M. Antioxidant activity of dry birch (Betula pendula) leaves extract. Folia Med (Plovdiv). 2018;60(4):571-579.